Question

In $2\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\to 2\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$: The oxidising agent is_________

Answer 1

Oxidizing agent

• An oxidizing agent (often referred to as an oxidizer or an oxidant) is a chemical species that tends to oxidize other substances, i.e. cause an increase in the oxidation state of the substance by making it lose electrons.
• They are chemical substances that oxidizes another substance by removing the electrons.
• In the reaction $\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}}{2\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Chlorine}}{{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{chloride}}{2\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}$
• Chlorine acts an oxidizing agent, as it accepts the electrons from sodium and gets reduced.
• The oxidation state of sodium in $\mathrm{Na}$ is $0$ but in $\mathrm{NaCl}$, the oxidation state of $\mathrm{Na}$ changes to $+1$so $\mathrm{Na}$ is getting oxidized as it loses its electrons.
• Also, the oxidation state of chlorine in ${\mathrm{Cl}}_2$ is $0$ but in $\mathrm{NaCl}$, the oxidation state of $\mathrm{Cl}$ changes to $-1$so $\mathrm{Cl}$ is getting reduced as it accepts the electrons.
• Hence, chlorine acts as an oxidizing agent by removing electrons from sodium.

Thus, the oxidising agent is chlorine.